As the Year of the Fire Horse ushers in a focus on balance in wellbeing, travellers are increasingly seeking experiences that go beyond spa menus and step counts. In 2026 wellness seekers are craving intentional travel, journeys designed to restore mental clarity alongside emotional balance and physical vitality through culture, ritual and nature. Japan's Setouchi region, stretching across the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, is emerging as a strong contender for the year of wellness travel ahead - a place where ancient traditions intersect with modern wellbeing trends.

A Literary Escape for the Mind

The rise of reading retreats coincides with 2026 being declared as The National Year of Reading, a collaboration between the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust. The initiative encourages the nation to 'Go All In," and "read into" genres that they already love whether that is cooking, music or films.  Few places embody this trend as poetically as NIPPONIA Harima Fukusaki Library Maison in Hyogo Prefecture. Stepping into the hotel, visitors are transported back to the Japan of 300 years ago. Once the childhood study home of pioneering folklorist Kunio Yanagita, the Edo-period residence has been carefully restored and designated an Important Tangible Cultural Property, bestowed on properties with high historical, artistic or academic value. Spread across nine preserved buildings, the property houses over 4,000 books, creating an atmosphere of quiet contemplation and intellectual immersion. Seven individually designed guest suites feature cypress-scented baths and no TV's or clocks, providing the perfect surroundings to luxuriate in the silence and a book. With approximately 1,000 books from the collection available for guests to peruse at leisure this really is a book-worm's haven. 

Ancient Hot Springs, Modern Healing

Hydrotherapy remains a cornerstone of wellness travel and hot spring destinations are experiencing renewed interest as travellers seek natural therapies over synthetic spa treatments. Setouchi enables visitors to combine the benefits of hydrotherapy with zen-inspired retreats that focus on presence. At Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens in Fukuyama, Hiroshima, the Bathhouse offers a rare opportunity to experience bathing as a spiritual act. Originally built for monks training at a Zen dojo, the bathhouse follows the traditional Shichidō garan temple layout, where every daily action is considered a form of practice. Guests cleanse both mind and body in a space that honours Zen philosophy - from bathing and tea tasting to Zen meals, calligraphy lessons and meditative garden walks. The museum also houses one of Japan's largest collections of Zen paintings and calligraphies by master Hakuin. Entrance fees are 1,800 YEN (approximately £8.50) per adult, 1,000 YEN for university and secondary school children and 500 YEN (approximately £2.40) per child under 11.

Combining Strength and Purpose

Another notable wellness trend for 2026 is the rise of male-focused retreats, emphasising discipline and embodied confidence, and Setouchi's mountainous scenery is the perfect place to combine spiritualism with an element of physical challenge.

Mt. Rokko has long been revered as a sacred mountain, historically serving as a training ground for Shugendo practitioners. Today, well-maintained hiking trails - like 3-hour Ishiki Road - allow visitors to experience the changing beauty throughout the four seasons and explorers are rewarded by the '10 Million Dollar Night View' over Kobe City and Osaka Bay from the summit. The Mountaineering Support Center at JR Shin-Kobe Station is a handy resource for those heading out into the Rokko mountainous region.

Mt. Tsurugi, meaning 'sword mountain', is located in western Tokushima Prefecture and rises to an elevation of 1,955m making it the second-highest peak in western Japan and one of the country's '100 Famous Mountains'. Hikers can climb from the base taking around 2 hours, or take a chairlift part of the way up for a less challenging ascent. The spiritual hiking experience, which includes visiting sacred sites like the Otoseki Stone and Oshikimizu spring resonates strongly, and from the summit a breathtaking 360-degree view unfolds, along with alpine flowers in every season, star-filled skies at night and mystical mist-filled sunrises. The Tsurungi Mountain Tourist Lift operates seasonally between mid-April and late November.

Olive Culture and Mindful Eating

Nutrition-led wellness continues to shape travel choices, with superfoods and mindful eating experiences playing a central role. On Shodoshima Island, olives, long celebrated for their anti-inflammatory and heart-health benefits, take centre stage at the MILLENIUM OLIVE TERRACE  for your wellness. Set overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, the facility's symbolic heart is a thousand-year-old olive tree, surrounded by gardens designed for sensory engagement. Guests can explore the history of olives, enjoy olive oil tastings, olive tea hospitality and mindful eating sessions, and participate in meditation experiences rooted in nature. Accommodation overlooking the sea invites guests to embrace boketto (gazing), fostering harmony between food, beauty and healing.

The Setouchi Region is located in western Japan and surrounds Japan's largest inland sea. To access the region from the UK there are direct flights to Tokyo from London Heathrow with British Airways, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines. From Tokyo it is a 3-5 hour journey via Shinkansen to stations in the region including Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima and Shin-Yamaguchi and Shikoku (Kawaga, Ehime and Tokushima). 

For more information visit https://setouchitourism.or.jp/en/

-ENDS-

About Setouchi DMO:

Setouchi DMO is comprised of the seven prefectures that make up the Setouchi Region surrounding the Seto Inland Sea and its islands - Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, and Ehime. Setouchi Journeys was developed by Setouchi DMO to help make the region more accessible to visitors by dividing the area into four major zones. The Setouchi DMO is a travel brand formed by The Inland Sea, SETOUCHI Tourism Authority, which plans and carries out tourism marketing promotion, and the Setouchi Brand Corporation Inc. that supports tourism product development by utilizing the Setouchi Kanko Kasseika Fund. Their work to promote these destinations to domestic and international visitors aims to revitalise the local economy and create a prosperous regional society through the autonomous and lasting cyclical growth of the Setouchi area. https://setouchitourism.or.jp/en/